Lawmakers this week picked their leaders for the coming session, even as the makeup of the next Legislature was unclear.

Several key races were still undecided, awaiting further vote countingthat won't wrap up until next week.

While final counts are still pending, it's clear Republicans will retain their hold on the state House of Representatives, something they have done for 50 years. Speaker-elect J.D. Mesnard, chosen by his GOP colleagues on Wednesday, said he expects to have a caucus of 35 Republicans, down one from the current number. That would give the House a 35-25 partisan split.

In the Senate, leaders are looking at a 17-13 split, or possibly a narrowing to 16 Republicans and 14 Democrats, said Sen. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix and the incoming majority leader.

The Senate makeup depends on the results of the contest between Rep. Kate Brophy McGee and Rep. Eric Meyer.

McGee, a Republican, was leading Democrat Meyer by 1 percentage point, with thousands more ballots to count. They are running for the Legislative District 28 seat, representing a district that runs northeast from central Phoenix, including Paradise Valley.

Democrats were hopeful that thousands of uncounted ballots in rural Arizona would boost the chances of Sen. Barbara McGuire of Kearny holding onto her seat in her race against Rep. Frank Pratt in LD 8, which includes northern Pinal County and the mining communities of Globe and Superior.

But those hopes faded as later returns widened Pratt's lead.

In north-central Arizona, Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake,was increasing her lead over Democrat Nikki Bagley for the LD6 Senate seat.

The race for an open seat in Ahwatukee Foothills/south Tempe between Democrat Sean Bowie and Republican Frank Schmuck appeared over,as Bowie joined Democrats Thursday as they met to pick leaders. Bowie holds a nearly 3-point lead over his GOP rival in LD 18.

In the House, Democrats are eyeing a pickup of two seats, as Rep. Chris Ackerley, R-Tucson, is trailing Democrats Rosanna Gabaldon and Daniel Hernandez. The top two voter-getters win the House seats in LD 2.

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In LD 18, Democrats expect Mitzi Epstein to claim one of the two House seats, creating a split delegation for this suburban district. Rep. Jill Norgaard, R-Phoenix, is in second place, with Rep. Bob Robson trailing as thousands more votes await tabulation.

In LD 28, Democrats are confident Kelli Butler will win one of the two open seats in that district. Republican Maria Syms is leading fellow Republican Mary Hamway for the second seat.

In Tucson's LD 10, Democratic Rep. Stefanie Machcontinued to run third against newcomer Democrat Kirsten Engel and Republican Todd Clodfelter.

The leadership elections produced new teams on the GOP side, with a heavy female influence.

In the Senate, in addition to Yee, Sen. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler, was elected Senate president, and Sen. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, was re-elected majority whip.

In the House, Rep. John Allen, R-Phoenix, will serve as majority leader and Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, will be majority whip.

House Democrats on Thursday elected Rep. Rebecca Rios of Phoenix as House minority leader. Rep. Randy Friese of Tucson will be assistant minority leader and Rep. Charlene Fernandez of Yuma was elected minority whip.

In the Senate, Democrats opted to stick with the same team they have had for the last two years. Sen. Katie Hobbs of Phoenix is the minority leader, with Steve Farley of Tucson as assistant leader. Martin Quezada of Phoenix and Lupe Contreras of Avondale will continue to share the minority-whip duties.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl.

Arizona Democratic Party supporters react to an early Donald Trump lead at the party's election-night bash at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown. At press time, Trump had clinched several key states and was leading in others. Michael Chow/The Republic

Jack, an 18-month old mix terrier who belongs to Rosana Nesheim, watches as people walk by in the patio of Desoto Central Market on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, in Phoenix, Ariz. Carlos Salcedo/Special for azcen

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students Gisselle Avila,
17, and Mark Sauceda, 16, walked out of their schools marching towards on of the polling station to rally and get out the vote against Sheriff Arpaio during Election Day in Phoenix on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walked out of their schools marching towards on of the polling station to rally and get out the vote against Sheriff Arpaio during an election day in Phoenix, on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students Gisselle Avila, 17, and Mark Sauceda, 16, walk out of their school and head toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Trump supporters cheer as Trump t-shirts are thrown into the crowd during the state Republican Party's election night party at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in downtown Phoenix on Tuesday evening, Nov. 8, 2016. David Wallace/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Maryvale High School students walk out of their school and march toward one of the polling stations in Phoenix to get out the vote against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Sen. John McCain and his wife Cindy McCain, greets their supporters before he talks to the media after casting their ballots at Mountain View Christian Church in Phoenix on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Nick Oza/The Republic

Javier Limon, at his polling station at Mountain Vista Academy in San Tan Valley, voted for Donald Trump. He immigrated more than 40 years ago and has voted in every election for 30 years. Robert Anglen/The Republic

Voters wait in line to vote early on Nov. 8, 2016, in Phoenix. As polling locations opened across Maricopa County Tuesday morning, long lines of voters were already waiting to cast ballots. Matt York / Associated Press

Gilbert residents vote at the Freestone Recreation Center, 1141 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert on Nov. 8, 2016. The polls close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mark Henle/The Republic

Danna Showalter fills out her ballot, Nov. 8, 2016, at the Freestone Recreation Center, 1141 E. Guadalupe Road. The polls close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mark Henle/The Republic

Russ Freestone fills out his ballot, Nov. 8, 2016, at the Freestone Recreation Center, 1141 E. Guadalupe Road. The polls close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mark Henle/The Republic

Gilbert residents wait in line for their ballots before voting, Nov. 8, 2016, at the Freestone Recreation Center, 1141 E. Guadalupe Road. The polls close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mark Henle/The Republic

Voters wait for the polls to open, Nov. 8, 2016, at the Freestone Recreation Center, 1141 E. Guadalupe Road. The polls close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Mark Henle/The Republic

Susette Faulkner (center) of Scottsdale, reads a book and Dolores Van Nutt, also of Scottsdale, plays a game on her tablet while they wait to vote early at Scottsdale City Hall on Nov. 3, 2016. They said they had been waiting more than two hours to vote. David Wallace/The Republic